Specula by Thomas Edward Brown
Specula by Thomas Edward Brown When He appoints to meet thee, go thou forth— It matters not If south or north, Bleak waste or sunny plot. Nor think, if haply He thou seek’st be late, He does thee wrong. To stile or gate Lean thou thy head, and long! It may be that to spy […]
Salve! by Thomas Edward Brown
Salve! by Thomas Edward Brown TO live within a cave–it is most good; But, if God make a day, And some one come, and say, ‘Lo! I have gather’d faggots in the wood!’ E’en let him stay, And light a fire, and fan a temporal mood! So sit till morning! when the light is grown […]
Risus Dei by Thomas Edward Brown
Risus Dei by Thomas Edward Brown Methinks in Him there dwells alway A sea of laughter very deep, Where the leviathans leap, And little children play, Their white feet twinkling on its crisped edge; But in the outer bay The strong man drives the wedge Of polished limbs, And swims. Yet there is one will […]
Pain by Thomas Edward Brown
Pain by Thomas Edward Brown The Man that hath great griefs I pity not; ’Tis something to be great In any wise, and hint the larger state, Though but in shadow of a shade, God wot! Moreover, while we wait the possible, This man has touched the fact, And probed till he has felt the […]
Opifex by Thomas Edward Brown
Opifex by Thomas Edward Brown As I was carving images from clouds, And tinting them with soft ethereal dyes Pressed from the pulp of dreams, one comes, and cries:– “Forbear!” and all my heaven with gloom enshrouds. “Forbear!” Thou hast no tools wherewith to essay The delicate waves of that elusive grain: Wouldst have due […]
My Garden by Thomas Edward Brown
My Garden by Thomas Edward Brown A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot! Rose plot, Fringed pool, Ferned grot– The veriest school Of peace; and yet the fool Contends that God is not– Not God! in gardens! when the eve is cool? Nay, but I have a sign; ‘Tis very sure God walks in […]
Land, Ho! by Thomas Edward Brown
Land, Ho! by Thomas Edward Brown I know ’tis but a loom of land, Yet is it land, and so I will rejoice, I know I cannot hear His voice Upon the shore, nor see Him stand; Yet is it land, ho! land. The land! the land! the lovely land! ‘Far off,’ dost say? Far […]
Jessie by Thomas Edward Brown
Jessie by Thomas Edward Brown WHEN Jessie comes with her soft breast, And yields the golden keys, Then is it as if God caress’d Twin babes upon His knees– Twin babes that, each to other press’d, Just feel the Father’s arms, wherewith they both are bless’d. But when I think if we must part, And […]
If Thou Could’st Empty All Thyself Of Self by Thomas Edward Brown
If Thou Could’st Empty All Thyself Of Self by Thomas Edward Brown If thou could’st empty all thyself of self, Like to a shell dishabited, Then might He find thee on the ocean shelf, And say, “This is not dead,” And fill thee with Himself instead. But thou are all replete with very thou And […]
Ibant Obscur? by Thomas Edward Brown
Ibant Obscur? by Thomas Edward Brown To-night I saw three maidens on the beach, Dark-robed descending to the sea, So slow, so silent of all speech, And visible to me Only by that strange drift-light, dim, forlorn, Of the sun’s wreck and clashing surges born. Each after other went, And they were gathered to his […]
I bended unto me a Bough by Thomas Edward Brown
I bended unto me a Bough by Thomas Edward Brown I bended unto me a bough of May, That I might see and smell: It bore it in a sort of way, It bore it very well. But, when I let it backward sway, Then it were hard to tell With what a toss, with […]
Dora by Thomas Edward Brown
Dora by Thomas Edward Brown SHE knelt upon her brother’s grave, My little girl of six years old– He used to be so good and brave, The sweetest lamb of all our fold; He used to shout, he used to sing, Of all our tribe the little king– And so unto the turf her ear […]
Disguises by Thomas Edward Brown
Disguises by Thomas Edward Brown High stretched upon the swinging yard, I gather in the sheet; But it is hard And stiff, and one cries haste. Then He that is most dear in my regard Of all the crew gives aidance meet; But from His hands, and from His feet, A glory spreads wherewith the […]
Time of Roses by Thomas Hood
Time of Roses by Thomas Hood It was not in the Winter Our loving lot was cast; It was the time of roses— We pluck’d them as we pass’d! That churlish season never frown’d On early lovers yet: O no—the world was newly crown’d With flowers when first we met! ‘Twas twilight, and I bade […]
Tim Turpin by Thomas Hood
Tim Turpin by Thomas Hood Tim Turpin he was gravel-blind, And ne’er had seen the skies : For Nature, when his head was made, Forgot to dot his eyes. So, like a Christmas pedagogue, Poor Tim was forced to do – Look out for pupils; for he had A vacancy for two. There’s some have […]
The World is with Me by Thomas Hood
The World is with Me by Thomas Hood The world is with me, and its many cares, Its woes–its wants–the anxious hopes and fears That wait on all terrestrial affairs– The shades of former and of future years– Forboding fancies and prophetic tears, Quelling a spirit that was once elate. Heavens! what a wilderness the […]
The Sun Was Slumbering in the West by Thomas Hood
The Sun Was Slumbering in the West by Thomas Hood The sun was slumbering in the West, My daily labors past; On Anna’s soft and gentle breast My head reclined at last; The darkness closed around, so dear To fond congenial souls, And thus she murmur’d at my ear, “My love, we’re out of coals! […]
The Song of the Shirt by Thomas Hood
The Song of the Shirt by Thomas Hood With fingers weary and worn, With eyelids heavy and red, A woman sat, in unwomanly rags, Plying her needle and thread– Stitch! stitch! stitch! In poverty, hunger, and dirt, And still with a voice of dolorous pitch She sang the “Song of the Shirt.” “Work! work! work! […]
The Haunted House by Thomas Hood
The Haunted House by Thomas Hood Oh, very gloomy is the house of woe, Where tears are falling while the bell is knelling, With all the dark solemnities that show That Death is in the dwelling! Oh, very, very dreary is the room Where Love, domestic Love, no longer nestles, But smitten by the common […]
The Dream of Eugene Aram by Thomas Hood
The Dream of Eugene Aram by Thomas Hood ‘Twas in the prime of summer-time An evening calm and cool, And four-and-twenty happy boys Came bounding out of school: There were some that ran and some that leapt, Like troutlets in a pool. Away they sped with gamesome minds, And souls untouched by sin; To a […]
The Death Bed by Thomas Hood
The Death Bed by Thomas Hood We watch’d her breathing thro’ the night, Her breathing soft and low, As in her breast the wave of life Kept heaving to and fro. But when the morn came dim and sad And chill with early showers, Her queit eyelids closed; she had Another morn than ours. ————— […]
The Bridge of Sighs by Thomas Hood
The Bridge of Sighs by Thomas Hood One more Unfortunate, Weary of breath, Rashly importunate, Gone to her death! Take her up tenderly, Lift her with care; Fashion’d so slenderly Young, and so fair! Look at her garments Clinging like cerements; Whilst the wave constantly Drips from her clothing; Take her up instantly, Loving, not […]
Silence by Thomas Hood
Silence by Thomas Hood There is a silence where hath been no sound, There is a silence where no sound may be, In the cold grave—under the deep, deep sea, Or in wide desert where no life is found, Which hath been mute, and still must sleep profound; No voice is hush’d—no life treads silently, […]
Ruth by Thomas Hood
Ruth by Thomas Hood She stood breast-high amid the corn, Clasp’d by the golden light of morn, Like the sweetheart of the sun, Who many a glowing kiss had won. On her cheek an autumn flush, Deeply ripen’d;—such a blush In the midst of brown was born, Like red poppies grown with corn. Round her […]
Past and Present by Thomas Hood
Past and Present by Thomas Hood I remember, I remember The house where I was born, The little window where the sun Came peeping in at morn; He never came a wink too soon Nor bought too long a day; But now, I often wish the night Had borne my breath away. I remember, I […]
On Mistress Nicely, a Pattern for Housekeepers by Thomas Hood
On Mistress Nicely, a Pattern for Housekeepers by Thomas Hood She was a woman peerless in her station, With household virtues wedded to her name; Spotless in linen, grass-bleached in her fame; And pure and clear-starched in her conversation; Thence in my Castle of Imagination She dwells for evermore, the dainty dame, To keep all […]
November by Thomas Hood
November by Thomas Hood No sun; no moon! No morn; no noon; No dawn; no dusk; no proper time of day. No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease, No comfortable feel in any member; No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds!; November! ————— The End And […]
No! by Thomas Hood
No! by Thomas Hood No sun–no moon! No morn–no noon! No dawn–no dusk–no proper time of day– No sky–no earthly view– No distance looking blue– No road–no street–no “t’other side this way”– No end to any Row– No indications where the Crescents go– No top to any steeple– No recognitions of familiar people– No courtesies […]
I Remember, I Remember by Thomas Hood
I Remember, I Remember by Thomas Hood I Remember, I Remember I remember, I remember The house where I was born, The little window where the sun Came peeping in at morn; He never came a wink too soon Nor brought too long a day; But now, I often wish the night Had borne my […]
Gold! by Thomas Hood
Gold! by Thomas Hood Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! Bright and yellow, hard and cold Molten, graven, hammered and rolled, Heavy to get and light to hold, Hoarded, bartered, bought and sold, Stolen, borrowed, squandered, doled, Spurned by young, but hung by old To the verge of a church yard mold; Price of many a crime […]
Flowers by Thomas Hood
Flowers by Thomas Hood I will not have the mad Clytie, Whose head is turned by the sun; The tulip is a courtly queen, Whom, therefore, I will shun; The cowslip is a country wench, The violet is a nun; – But I will woo the dainty rose, The queen of everyone. The pea is […]
Faithless Sally Brown by Thomas Hood
Faithless Sally Brown by Thomas Hood Young Ben he was a nice young man, A carpenter by trade; And he fell in love with Sally Brown, That was a lady’s maid. But as they fetch’d a walk one day, They met a press-gang crew; And Sally she did faint away, Whilst Ben he was brought […]
Faithless Nelly Gray by Thomas Hood
Faithless Nelly Gray by Thomas Hood A Pathetic Ballad Ben Battle was a soldier bold, And used to war’s alarms; But a cannon-ball took off his legs, So he laid down his arms. Now as they bore him off the field, Said he, ‘Let others shoot; For here I leave my second leg, And the […]
Death by Thomas Hood
Death by Thomas Hood It is not death, that sometime in a sigh This eloquent breath shall take its speechless flight; That sometime these bright stars, that now reply In sunlight to the sun, shall set in night; That this warm conscious flesh shall perish quite, And all life’s ruddy springs forget to flow; That […]
Christmas Holidays by Thomas Hood
Christmas Holidays by Thomas Hood Along the Woodford road there comes a noise Of wheels, and Mr. Rounding’s neat post-chaise Struggles along, drawn by a pair of bays, With Reverend Mr. Crow and six small boys, Who ever and anon declare their joys With trumping horns and juvenile huzzas, At going home to spend their […]
Autumn by Thomas Hood
Autumn by Thomas Hood I Saw old Autumn in the misty morn Stand shadowless like Silence, listening To silence, for no lonely bird would sing Into his hollow ear from woods forlorn, Nor lowly hedge nor solitary thorn;— Shaking his languid locks all dewy bright With tangled gossamer that fell by night, Pearling his coronet […]
Allegory by Thomas Hood
Allegory by Thomas Hood I had a gig-horse, and I called him Pleasure Because on Sundays for a little jaunt He was so fast and showy, quite a treasure; Although he sometimes kicked and shied aslant. I had a chaise, and christened it Enjoyment, With yellow body and the wheels of red, Because it was […]
A Lake And A Fairy Boat by Thomas Hood
A Lake And A Fairy Boat by Thomas Hood A lake and a fairy boat To sail in the moonlight clear, – And merrily we would float From the dragons that watch us here! Thy gown should be snow-white silk And strings of oriental pearls, Like gossamers dipped in milk, Should twine with thy raven […]